London 21 April 1870 My dear Fox, I told you by last mail that we were preparing a paper to go in to Lord Granville. Featherston was away at the North for a few days, and during his absence I got through the paper: but only after a great read of the whole Blue Books, for I constantly found we had endless pitfalls at every step, and I feel sure that a good writer could make quite asgood a case on the Granville side as any we can show, so unutterably stupid has the colony been. Featherston however does not like the draft, and therefore it will not go in before the present mail leaves: and as far as I am myself concerned I wish we should let it alone. Gisborne's Minute has answered Lord Granville's dispatch of October; and the less we go into a paper war I think, the better. Some part of the statement might be sent in, such for instance as contains any facts; but argument, and especially anything about separation, had best be omitted. In drafting the thing I had in my eye the probable receipt of very bad news last Monday in confirmation of the telegram that had arrived with the mail a month ago; but since the news is really pacific and no fresh trouble has occurred it seems useless as well as unwise to speak as if there were a new outbreak. I send you a copy of the draft, but you must not suppose that it will go in in this shape. Yours F. D. Bell Hon. W. Fox